Deviants

Deviants are individuals or groups whose behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs significantly differ from established societal norms. This divergence can manifest in various ways, encompassing acts that violate laws (criminal behavior), contravene social expectations (nonconformity), or challenge prevailing moral standards. The assessment of deviance is context-dependent, varying across cultures, time periods, and even subcultures. What is considered deviant in one society might be accepted or even celebrated in another. The social reaction to deviance can range from mild disapproval and social exclusion to legal sanctions and imprisonment. Understanding deviance requires examining the underlying social forces that shape norms and the processes by which individuals come to deviate.

Deviants meaning with examples

• The study analyzed the increasing number of petty theft cases, identifying the perpetrators as 'deviants' who had adopted shoplifting as a means of survival due to economic hardship. Society, it seems, has pushed these people, who steal to survive, to the fringes and labelled them as deviancy and the system has not supported their needs.
• The documentary explored the lives of 'deviants' who openly embraced polyamorous relationships, challenging traditional views on monogamy. Their choices, though unconventional, reflected a desire for deeper connections, but they faced societal pressure and negative judgments by society.
• In the novel, the protagonist, a 'deviant' artist, used their art to critique the government, and was punished by imprisonment, causing uproar from the public, for his controversial views. Their work, considered subversive, sparked debates about censorship and the freedom of expression.
• The research investigated the online behaviors of 'deviants' who engaged in cyberbullying. The study highlighted the psychological factors and the sense of anonymity as reasons that drove their conduct. It explored the impact of these actions on the victims.
• The historical analysis examined the treatment of 'deviants' with mental illness and the treatment they received in 18th-century asylums. The study exposed inhumane conditions, which demonstrated the impact of societal stigma and lack of understanding regarding mental health.